A quartet of AFL clubs will significantly shape the outcome of this year's National Draft, with the first eight picks of the selection order held by just four teams.
West Coast (Picks 1 and 2), Richmond (Picks 3 and 4), Essendon (Picks 5 and 6) and Melbourne (Pick 7 and 8) exited the trade period with multiple early selections as they look to bolster their respective lists with the top draft names in the counrry.
The Eagles, Tigers, Bombers and Demons are seen as the "four clubs that will really lead the way on how draft night unfolds", with Craft of the Draft assessing the draft order in the aftermath of the player movement period on this week's episode.
West Coast have a number of avenues to weigh up, and not just with who they might select to kickstart the draft.
The Eagles will field pick swap trade offers from those that trail them in the queue, but will only entertain the right proposal if one emerged. Essendon loom as a potential suitor, with West Coast a chance to split either Pick 1 or 2 and attain both of Essendon's early picks.
The Perth club will also consider bids on rival Academy talent, with Gold Coast duo Zeke Uwland and Dylan Patterson, as well as Brisbane's Dan Annable, all potentially in West Coast's sight.
"West Coast will obviously be a key driver of this draft, holding Picks 1 and 2," Craft of the Draft's Jonty Ralphsmith said.
"It'll be interesting on a few different fronts, with which players they choose to take. Willem Duursma is one they could take, and is viewed as the consensus No.1 available talent in the open pool.
"Whether West Coast would be receptive of a trade is something to keep an eye on.
"Also, if West Coast were to put a bid on for Zeke Uwland or Dylan Patterson, or both, that makes things much, much tougher for Gold Coast.
"Whereas if both of those two players don't get bids until after those first two selections, then it's much easier for the Suns to match bids and get both."
The Tigers are also expected to place at least one bid on another club's priority access prospect, with Carlton father-son Harry Dean also in the top five mix.
Richmond could make as many as four bids should West Coast opt against forcing a rival's hand, meaning the Tigers' two selections could be pushed back to seventh and eighth overall on night one.
"For Richmond, it's a waiting game and a bidding game for them," Mitch Keating said.
"If there are no bids from West Coast in their first two picks, then you'd expect Richmond to pull the trigger (on a bid) twice, maybe even three times.
"There's four in the top six, so Picks 3 and 4 might not come until seven and eight."
Essendon will have to wait and see how the Tigers and Eagles' draft plans unfold before having a firm grasp on their options to likely round out the top 10.
The Bombers too will be considering bids if any of Uwland, Patterson, Annable or Dean are still yet to be drafted once they're on the clock.
As far as who Essendon might select themselves, Ralphsmith believes South Australia's Sam Cumming is an ideal fit, while the Dons will also claim NGA prospects Adam Sweid and Hussien El Achkar later into the draft to add to their young crop.
"I think Sam Cumming is the one that suits them and their list profile," Ralphsmith said.
"They've got a really positive young core of talent, and this draft will be able to enhance that. They'll be able to use Picks 5 and 6, or trade up to get a better hand if they want to get into the top three.
"Then they can take Adam Sweid and Hussien El Achkar."
A trade with Gold Coast that saw the Suns net Christian Petracca has left Melbourne with Picks 7 and 8 for the AFL Draft.
Having also attained the Suns' 2026 first-round pick, the Demons could recruit eight first-round prospects across a four-year period to help their push for premiership contention in the future.
Eastern Ranges defender Xavier Taylor could be a name on Melbourne's radar given his placement as a point of difference in the open pool, which is dominated by midfielders.
"Having had two first-round picks in each of the two previous years, then Picks 7 and 8 this year, and then they've also picked up Gold Coast's future first," Keating added.
"If they take (all of those picks), that's eight first-round picks in four years. It was Koltyn Tholstrup and Caleb Windsor in 2023, and then Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay last year.
"This year, with seven and eight, are they going to look at different types of players? Is it key position? At this point of the draft, what do they get to look at with those picks and key position?
"Xavier Taylor isn't a key position player but he is a spine asset. He's certainly one I think they'd look consider at Picks 7 and 8."
You can watch this week's episode of Craft of the Draft below, which covers every club's draft hand and potential plans following the trade period. You can also watch Craft of the Draft on Zero Hanger's YouTube channel.
